Exposed and embedded overlay structure

ABSTRACT

The present invention describes a structure for and a method of forming a first set and a second set of features in a substrate; covering the first and second set of features with a material; forming a third set of features in the material and removing the material to expose the first set of features, leaving the second set of features embedded below the material; measuring post-etch overlay between the first set and the third set of features; and measuring post-develop overlay between the second set and the third set of features.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) manufacturing, and more specifically, to improving the design of an overlay structure.

2. Discussion of Related Art

Many parameters of a semiconductor device must be monitored during fabrication to assure that the device will meet the specifications for performance and reliability at the end of the line. Since device fabrication may involve as many as 30 layers, it is particularly important to measure the overlay of the critical layers to each other. One critical overlay for a microprocessor is polysilicon gate layer to shallow trench isolation layer. Another critical overlay is first metal layer to contact layer.

It is very challenging to measure overlay directly in a product die on a wafer. This is because of the extremely small horizontal and vertical dimensions of the features and the multiple layers of material stacked on the wafer. However, test structures representing any two layers of interest may be placed in the scribelines separating the die. Then, overlay data, collected in accordance with a statistically valid sampling plan, may be analyzed using an appropriate model. The overlay may be partitioned into an orthogonal set of components which correspond to physically meaningful parameters on the step-and-scan tool that exposed the wafer. Such a feedback loop allows the step-and-scan tool to be adjusted to improve overlay on wafers processed later.

As the design groundrules continue to shrink, it becomes increasingly critical to design a robust overlay structure to accommodate the process variations that can introduce considerable noise into an overlay measurement. As an example, gate layer is usually formed from polysilicon that has been deposited by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and planarized by chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP). These processes affect the thickness, roughness, and graininess of the polysilicon, thus making overlay measurement difficult.

Overlay refers to the relative placement of a subsequent layer with reference to a previous layer. Overlay is generally measured in two orthogonal orientations. The orientations are usually chosen to correspond to the x-axis and the y-axis of the stage of the step-and-scan tool used to expose photoresist on the layers. For illustrative purposes in the following description, the polysilicon gate layer will be chosen as the subsequent or second layer and the shallow trench isolation layer will be chosen as the previous or first layer.

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a wafer 5 in one of the two orientations after develop. The substrate 10 is formed from a semiconductor material such as silicon. Then the surface of the substrate 10 is covered with silicon oxide 30. The outer bars 15 are formed at the first layer from shallow trenches that have been filled with a dielectric material 20. After depositing a layer of polysilicon 40 over the entire wafer, a coat of photoresist is applied. A step-and-scan tool aligns layer two (on a mask) to layer one (on the wafer) and then exposes the photoresist through the mask to form a latent image of the desired pattern from the mask in the photoresist. The inner bars 45 are formed after developing the photoresist 50.

Overlay is measured after develop since, if necessary, the photoresist may be removed and re-applied for patterning again before etching is performed. First, the centerline 54 of the inner bars 45 is determined from the midpoint of the distance 52 between the centers of the inner bars. Second, the centerline 14 of the outer bars 15 is determined from the midpoint of the distance 12 between the centers of the outer bars. Finally, the overlay after develop is calculated as the difference 24 between the centerline 54 of the inner bars 45 and the centerline 14 of the outer bars 15.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a wafer 7 after etch in the same orientation as FIG. 1. The top of the outer bars 15 is now exposed since the overlying polysilicon layer has been removed by the etch. The inner bars 45 are formed from polysilicon 40.

Overlay is also measured after etch. Rework of the photoresist is no longer possible, but the etch must be monitored since the pattern in the photoresist has been transferred into the layers of material on the wafer. First, the centerline 55 of the inner bars 46 is determined from the midpoint of the distance 53 between the centers of the inner bars 46. Second, the centerline 17 of the outer bars 15 is determined from the midpoint of the distance 13 between the centers of the outer bars 15. Finally, the overlay after etch is calculated as the difference 25 between the centerline 55 of the inner bars 46 and the centerline 17 of the outer bars 15.

It is preferable to measure post-develop overlay at a layer because rework of the photoresist is still possible. However, data from cross-sectioned wafers reveal that post-etch overlay is a better predictor of overlay in product devices than post-develop overlay. Overlay measurement becomes more consistent after etch because polysilicon has been removed from over the overlay structure. Consequently, it is often necessary to measure overlay after develop and again after etch in order to determine an etch offset. The etch offset is then applied to correct subsequent post-develop measurements. Unfortunately, the etch offset is not very consistent unless results are obtained by measuring the same locations on the same wafers after develop and after etch. Such a procedure is laborious and time consuming. Furthermore, the etch offset must be updated frequently since it will often fluctuate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a cross-sectional view of an overlay structure after develop (prior art).

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a cross-sectional view of an overlay structure after etch (prior art).

FIG. 3(a) is an illustration of a cross-sectional view of a novel overlay structure for a transparent film after develop.

FIG. 3(b) is an illustration of a cross-sectional view of a novel overlay structure for a transparent film after etch.

FIG. 4(a) is an illustration of a cross-sectional view of a novel overlay structure for an opaque film after develop.

FIG. 4(b) is an illustration of a cross-sectional view of a novel overlay structure for an opaque film after etch.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a methodology to determine an offset to correct post-develop overlay measurement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In the following description, numerous details, such as specific materials, dimensions, and processes, are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, one skilled in the art will realize that the invention may be practiced without these particular details. In other instances, well-known semiconductor equipment and processes have not been described in particular detail so as to avoid obscuring the present invention.

One embodiment of the present invention describes a novel post-etch overlay structure that allows the measurement of both post-etch overlay and the equivalent of post-develop overlay. The overlay structure may have multiple targets, such as three pairs of targets. Each target may be a bar, a twin bar, a trench, a twin trench, a series of holes, or a series of pillars. The various targets may differ in shape, dimension, and spacing. Another embodiment of the present invention describes a novel post-etch methodology that determines an offset to correct the measurement of post-develop overlay.

FIG. 3(a) shows a cross-sectional view of a novel overlay structure for a layer with transparent material 40, such as polysilicon, on a wafer 5 a after develop of photoresist. The substrate 10 is formed from a semiconductor material such as silicon. The surface of the substrate 10 is covered with silicon oxide 30. It is desirable to form the overlay structure with product-like features. In one embodiment of the present invention, a first set 15 a and a second set 15 b of features, such as outer bars, are formed at an earlier layer, such as shallow trench isolation layer, from trenches that have been filled with a dielectric material 20. In some cases, the dielectric material 20 may protrude out of the top of the trenches. The first set 15 a of outer bars and the second set 15 b of outer bars are parallel and located near each other. The two sets of outer bars are usually coplanar.

After depositing a layer of transparent material 40, such as polysilicon, over the entire wafer at a subsequent layer, such as polysilicon gate layer, photoresist is applied. A step-and-scan tool aligns the pattern from the subsequent layer (on a mask) to the pattern from the earlier layer (on the wafer) and then exposes the photoresist through the mask to form a latent image of the desired pattern from the mask in the photoresist. The inner bars 45 a are formed after developing the photoresist 50. Protective pads 45 b are also formed in the photoresist over the second set 15 b of outer bars. The inner bars 45 a and the protective pads 45 b are nominally parallel to the first set 15 a and the second set 15 b of outer bars.

Overlay of the novel overlay structure is initially measured after develop. First, the centerline 54 a of the inner bars 45 a is determined from the midpoint of the distance 52 a between the centers of the inner bars 45 a. The centerline is the location from which the two bars are equidistant. The inner bars 45 a are nominally parallel to but located some distance away from the first set 15 a of outer bars and the second set 15 b of outer bars. Second, the centerline 14 a of the first set 15 a of outer bars is determined from the midpoint of the distance 12 a between the centers of the first set 15 a of outer bars. The deviation in the location of the two centerlines is a measurement of their overlay. As a result, the overlay after develop is calculated as the difference 24 a between the centerline 54 a of the inner bars 45 a and the centerline 14 a of the first set 15 a of outer bars. The second set of outer bars 15 b is not usually measured after develop since it is embedded below the transparent material 40 that is covered by the protective pads 45 b in the photoresist.

Overlay of the novel overlay structure is also measured after etch. FIG. 3(b) shows a cross-sectional view of a novel overlay structure for a layer with transparent material 40, such as polysilicon, on a wafer 7 a after etch. The inner bars 46 a are formed from the transparent material 40. The first set 16 a of outer bars is now exposed or uncovered since the overlying transparent film 40 has been removed by the etch. Consequently, the first set 16 a of outer bars resembles a post-etch condition. However, the second set 16 b of outer bars is still embedded below or covered by the transparent film 40. Consequently, the second set 16 b of outer bars resembles a post-develop condition.

First, the centerline 55 a of the inner bars 46 a is determined from the midpoint of the distance 53 a between the centers of the inner bars 46 a. The inner bars 46 a are nominally parallel to but located some distance away from the first set 16 a of outer bars and the second set 16 b of outer bars. Second, the centerline 17 a of the first set 16 a of outer bars is determined from the midpoint of the distance 13 a between the centers of the first set 16 a of outer bars. Third, the centerline 35 a of the second set 16 b of outer bars is determined from the midpoint of the distance 13 b between the centers of the second set 16 b of outer bars.

Some typical dimensions are as follows. The distance 53 a between the centers of the inner bars 46 a may be about 16.0 micrometers. The distance 13 a between the centers of the first set 16 a of outer bars may be about 28.0 micrometers. The distance 13 b between the centers of the second set 16 b of outer bars may be about 35.0 micrometers. As product devices continue to be scaled down, the overlay structure of the present invention can be made smaller by reducing these distances to about 30-40% of the values given above.

The overlay for the post-develop condition is calculated as the difference 45 a between the centerline 55 a of the inner bars 46 a and the centerline 35 a of the second set 16 b of outer bars. The overlay for the post-etch condition is calculated as the difference 25 a between the centerline 55 a of the inner bars 46 a and the centerline 17 a of the first set 16 a of outer bars. The difference between the overlay for the post-etch condition and the overlay for the post-develop condition is the exposed-to-embedded overlay offset. This offset can be used to correct subsequent measurements of overlay after develop.

FIG. 4(a) shows a cross-sectional view of a novel overlay structure for a layer with opaque material 140, such as Aluminum, on a wafer 105 a after develop of photoresist. The substrate 110 is a dielectric material, such as silicon oxide, that covers transistors fabricated in a semiconductor material such as silicon. In one embodiment of the present invention, a first set 115 a of outer bars and a second set 115 b of outer bars are formed at an earlier layer, such as contact layer, from holes that have been filled with another opaque material 120, such as Tungsten. The first set 115 a of outer bars and the second set 115 b of outer bars are parallel and located near each other. They are usually coplanar as well. After depositing a layer of opaque material 140 over the entire wafer 105 a at a subsequent layer, such as first metal layer, photoresist is applied. A step-and-scan tool aligns the pattern for a subsequent layer (on a mask) to the pattern for an earlier layer (on the wafer) and then exposes the photoresist through the mask to form a latent image of the desired pattern from the mask in the photoresist. The inner bars 145 a are formed after developing the photoresist 150. Protective pads 145 b are also formed in the photoresist over the second set 115 b of outer bars.

Overlay of the novel overlay structure is initally measured after develop. First, the centerline 154 a of the inner bars 145 a is determined from the midpoint of the distance 152 a between the centers of the inner bars 145 a. The inner bars 145 a are nominally parallel to but located some distance away from the first set 115 a of outer bars and the second set 115 b of outer bars. Second, the centerline 114 a of the first set 115 a of outer bars is determined from the midpoint of the distance 112 a between the centers of the first set 115 a of outer bars. Finally, the overlay after develop is calculated as the difference 124 a between the centerline 154 a of the inner bars 145 a and the centerline 114 a of the first set 115 a of outer bars. The second set of outer bars 115 b is not usually measured after develop since it is embedded below the opaque material 140 which is covered by the protective pads 145 b in photoresist.

FIG. 4(b) shows a cross-sectional view of a novel overlay structure for a layer with opaque material 140, such as aluminum, on a wafer 107 a after etch. The first set 116 a of outer bars is now exposed or uncovered since the overlying opaque material 140 has been removed by the etch. The second set 116 b of outer bars is still embedded below or covered by the blocks 146 b formed from the opaque material 140. The inner bars 146 a are formed from the opaque material 40.

Overlay of the novel overlay structure is also measured after etch. FIG. 4(b) shows a cross-sectional view of a novel overlay structure for a layer with an opaque material 140, such as aluminum, on a wafer 107 a after etch. The inner bars 146 a are formed from the opaque material 140. The first set 116 a of outer bars is now exposed or uncovered since the overlying opaque film 140 has been removed by the etch. Consequently, the first set 116 a of outer bars resembles a post-etch condition. However, the second set 116 b of outer bars is still embedded below or covered by the opaque film 140. Consequently, the second set 116 b of outer bars resembles a post-develop condition.

First, the centerline 155 a of the inner bars 146 a is determined from the midpoint of the distance 153 a between the centers of the inner bars 146 a. The inner bars 146 a are nominally parallel to but located some distance away from the first set 116 a of outer bars and the second set 116 b of outer bars. Second, the centerline 117 a of the first set 116 a of outer bars is determined from the midpoint of the distance 113 a between the centers of the first set 116 a of outer bars. Third, the centerline 135 a of the second set 116 b of outer bars is determined from the midpoint of the distance 113 b between the centers of the dimples 146 c located over the second set 116 b of outer bars.

The opaque material 140 prevents direct measurement of the second set 116 b of outer bars so the dimples 146 c in the opaque material 140 are measured instead. The dimples 146 c exist because the opaque material, such as Tungsten, in the holes is slightly recessed at the previous layer during the formation of the first set 116 a and the second set 116 b of outer bars. The process of chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) performed on the opaque material 140 may cause the dimples 146 c to be slightly off-center from the second set 116 b of outer bars, but this apparent error will also occur in the product die.

The overlay for the post-develop condition is calculated as the difference 145 a between the centerline 155 a of the inner bars 146 a and the centerline 135 a of the dimples 146 c located over the second set 116 b of outer bars. The overlay for the post-etch condition is calculated as the difference 125 a between the centerline 155 a of the inner bars 146 a and the centerline 117 a of the first set 116 a of outer bars. The difference between the overlay for the post-etch condition and the overlay for the post-develop condition is the exposed-to-embedded overlay offset. This offset can be used to correct subsequent measurements of overlay after develop.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a methodology shown in FIG. 5. First, as shown in block 10, the centerline 55 a (CL2) of the inner bars 46 a is determined from the midpoint of the distance 53 a between the centers of the inner bars 46 a. Second, as shown in block 20, the centerline 17 a (CL1EX) of the exposed first set 16 a of outer bars is determined from the midpoint of the distance 13 a between the centers of the exposed first set 16 a of outer bars. Third, as shown in block 30, the centerline 35 a (CL1EM) of the embedded second set 16 b of outer bars is determined from the midpoint of the distance 13 b between the centers of the embedded second set 16 b of outer bars. Fourth, as shown on block 43, the post-etch exposed overlay is calculated as (CL2−CL1EX). Fifth, as shown in block 46, the post-etch embedded overlay is calculated as (CL2−CL1EM). This is equivalent to the standard post-develop overlay. Sixth, as shown in block 50, the post-etch exposed-to-embedded overlay offset is calculated as (CL1EM−CL1EX). Finally, as shown in block 60, the post-etch exposed-to-embedded overlay offset is used to correct the post-develop overlay measurement.

Many embodiments and numerous details have been set forth above in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. One skilled in the art will appreciate that many of the features in one embodiment are equally applicable to other embodiments. One skilled in the art will also appreciate the ability to make various equivalent substitutions for those specific materials, processes, dimensions, concentrations, etc. described herein. It is to be understood that the detailed description of the present invention should be taken as illustrative and not limiting, wherein the scope of the present invention should be determined by the claims that follow. 

I claim:
 1. A semiconductor structure comprising: a first pair of features disposed in a substrate and left exposed, said first pair of features being equidistant from a first centerline; a second pair of features disposed in said substrate and left embedded below a layer of material, said second pair of features being equidistant from a second centerline; and a third pair of features disposed in said layer of material, said third pair of features being equidistant from a third centerline, wherein deviation among said first, second, and third centerlines is a measurement of overlay.
 2. A semiconductor structure of claim 1 wherein a first separation between said first centerline and said third centerline is a post-etch overlay.
 3. A semiconductor structure of claim 2 wherein a second separation between said second centerline and said third centerline is a post-develop overlay.
 4. A semiconductor structure of claim 3 wherein a third separation between said first centerline and said second centerline is an exposed-to-embedded offset in overlay.
 5. A semiconductor structure of claim 4 wherein said exposed-to-embedded offset in overlay can correct a post-develop overlay to predict a post-etch overlay.
 6. A semiconductor structure of claim 1 wherein said first pair of features comprises trenches filled with dielectric material.
 7. A semiconductor structure of claim 6 wherein said second pair of features comprises trenches filled with dielectric material and covered with transparent material.
 8. A semiconductor structure of claim 7 wherein said third pair of features comprises said transparent material.
 9. A semiconductor structure of claim 1 wherein said first pair of features comprises holes filled with a first opaque material.
 10. A semiconductor structure of claim 9 wherein said second pair of features comprises holes filled with said first opaque material and covered with a second opaque material.
 11. A semiconductor structure of claim 10 wherein said third pair of features comprises said second opaque material.
 12. A semiconductor structure of claim 1 wherein said first pair, said second pair, and said third pair of features are parallel. 